Cara clinches victory for Tyrone U16s at the death

Tyrone 3-12  Down 5-4

A GOAL in second half injury time from substitute Cara McMoran ensured Tyrone a place in the Gold final of the Ulster Ladies Under-16 Championship as they overcame Down at blustery Beragh on Saturday.

The Mourne side, who bagged five goals in the contest, led by a point as the tie swung into additional time before substitute McMoran’s fine solo run produced the match winning goal.

It had been a match hampered by the gale force conditions and while Tyrone, with the wind at their backs, led Down at the break 1-6 to 1-1 they were well aware of the possibility of a comeback from the previously unbeaten Mourne girls. The young Red Hand side played well overall showing character throughout the park.

Down led early on before Therese Loughran finished off a sweeping move to the net after good work from Heaney and Concannon. Scores from Keeva Owens, Isabelle Grimes, Ellie Daly and Lucy McCullagh, who also tested the crossbar, had Tyrone ahead at half-time.

Owens then stretched the Tyrone lead on the resumption. The home defence were assured with Heaney, Campbell, McCanny and Dana Coyle working hard. Playing all the football Tyrone pressed ahead with Owens and McGinn keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

A goal and three points in quick succession from the visitors eased them back into the game and while Mc Bride and Mc Ginn tagged on home points a brace of goals from Down courtesy of their productive long ball tactics had them in the box seat in injury time.

However McMoran then stepped up with the crucial score for the hosts to seal the win.

Meanwhile with a place in the Platinum Ulster Championship Final still up for grabs Tyrone Minor Ladies  face a daunting trip to Cavan on Saturday needing a win of their own coupled with several permutations elsewhere to ensure a final spot.

Although they are guaranteed a Gold Final berth, manager Darren McCann remains focused on that top final spot and doesn’t feel it’s beyond his exciting side to fulfil that objective.

“ Our aim is to go out and get a result against Cavan and then let the permutations take care of themselves. Whether it’s the Platinum or Gold final our aim is to win a first Ulster Minor title for Tyrone in seven years.

“Cavan are the benchmark of Ladies youth football in Ulster so we know the task ahead of us. Unfortunately we have picked up another few injuries but we will assess them through the week and see how the girls are closer to weekend,” confirmed the Errigal clubman.

A clutch of injuries have again hampered team selection with players picking up knocks and strains. McCann added: “ We have noticed over the last number of weeks the injuries have been creeping in and they are just simply down to the players playing and training loads. Some girls are out maybe four to five nights a week between minor club and county and then throw senior into mix, it’s difficult.”

As it stands Cavan are out on top in the group ahead of Donegal and Tyrone who are level on nine points each.

Tyrone under 14s meanwhile look set to contest the Platinum Final in Ulster as they maintained their unbeaten record in the festival of football last week with victories over Fermanagh and Antrim. Louise Daly’s side have played some excellent football through the competition. They wrap up their group games this weekend against Cavan and Down.

Tyrone top the group on full points with six wins from six. Derry finished on eighteen points with Cavan sitting third, the only side to threaten the Red Hands top spot.